Method and apparatus for reporting assistant information

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, a method includes: receiving at a base station, assistant information for reestablishing a link for at least one access node associated with an integrated access and backhaul node.

The following is what is claimed:  
     
       1. A method performed at a network device, the method comprising:
 transmitting a handover request message for an integrated access and backhaul node, wherein the handover request message comprises assistant information for reestablishing a link for at least one access node associated with the integrated access and backhaul node, and wherein the handover request message comprises an information element (IE) that includes the assistant information, and wherein the assistant information within the IE comprises:
 user equipment (UE) context of downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node, UE connected to the integrated access and backhaul node, and UE connected to the downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node; and 
 a cell identity of the integrated access and backhaul node. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at a base station, the assistant information. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the assistant information is received via a handover request message for a mobile termination of the integrated access and backhaul node and via F 1  signaling after completion of a setup of a distributed unit of the integrated access and backhaul node, and the handover request message comprises an identity of a distributed unit of the integrated access and backhaul node. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving an identity of a mobile termination of the integrated access and backhaul node during the setup of the distributed unit. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a message comprising an identity of a first node of the at least one access node and an identity of a source serving cell of the first node; and 
 determining that the base station has user equipment context of the first node based on the identity of the first node and the identity of the source serving cell of the first node matching the user equipment context. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first node is an integrated access and backhaul node, and the message further comprises an identity of a distributed unit of the first node. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a message comprising an identity of a source serving cell of a first node of the at least one access node; and 
 determining that the integrated access and backhaul node has user equipment context of the first node based on the identity of the source serving cell matches the cell identity of the integrated access and backhaul node. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assistant information comprises user equipment context of downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node, user equipment connected to the integrated access and backhaul node, and user equipment connected to the downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node, or the assistant information comprises a cell identity of the integrated access and backhaul node. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handover request message further comprises an identity of a distributed unit of the integrated access and backhaul node. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a message comprising assistant information for handing over an access node associated with an integrated access and backhaul node. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the assistant information comprises a value of a timer associated with the access node and a cell identity used to identify a target integrated access and backhaul node. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving the cell identity of the target integrated access and backhaul node. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cell identity comprises a physical cell identity. 
     
     
       14. A method performed at a network device, the method comprising:
 transmitting assistant information for reestablishing a link for at least one access node associated with an integrated access and backhaul node, wherein the assistant information is transmitted via F 1  signaling, and wherein an information element (IE) includes the assistant information, and wherein the assistant information within the IE comprises:
 user equipment (UE) context of downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node, UE connected to the integrated access and backhaul node, and UE connected to the downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node; and 
 a cell identity of the integrated access and backhaul node. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the assistant information comprises user equipment context of downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node, user equipment connected to the integrated access and backhaul node, and user equipment connected to the downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node or the assistant information comprises a cell identity of the integrated access and backhaul node. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 transmitting an identity of a mobile termination of the integrated access and backhaul node; 
 receiving a message comprising a cell identity of the at least one access node or an identity of a distributed unit of the at least one access node; and 
 retrieving user equipment context of the at least one access node. 
 
     
     
       17. A method performed at a network device, the method comprising:
 receiving a message comprising assistant information for handing over an access node, wherein the message comprises an information element (IE) that includes the assistant information, and wherein the assistant information within the IE comprises:
 user equipment (UE) context of downstreaming nodes of an integrated access and backhaul node, UE connected to the integrated access and backhaul node, and UE connected to the downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node; and 
 a cell identity of the integrated access and backhaul node. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 starting a timer in response to receiving the message; and 
 performing a handover procedure in response to an expiry of the timer; 
 wherein the assistant information comprises a value of the timer, wherein the timer is associated with the access node. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 performing a handover procedure in response to discovering a node having an identity matching a cell identity; 
 wherein the assistant information comprises the cell identity. 
 
     
     
       20. A network device, comprising:
 at least one memory; and 
 at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the network device to:
 transmit a handover request message for an integrated access and backhaul node,
 wherein the handover request message comprises assistant information for reestablishing a link for at least one access node associated with the integrated access and backhaul node, and wherein the handover request message comprises an information element (IE) that includes the assistant information, and wherein the assistant information within the IE comprises: 
 user equipment (UE) context of downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node, UE connected to the integrated access and backhaul node, and UE connected to the downstreaming nodes of the integrated access and backhaul node; and 
 a cell identity of the integrated access and backhaul node.